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Friday, September 7, 2012

Georgia's agriculture ministry: the state will not interfere in relationship between private business and foreign certification authorities

07.09.2012 (Hvino News). Georgia is ready to assist any company or foreign agency in connection with export of Georgian mineral water, wine and agricultural products, according to recent statement from the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia.

"The relationship between private Georgian wine companies and certification bodies in other countries are subject of cooperation between these two specific subjects only. The state shall not interfere in this process in any way. Representatives of the certification authority of any country may come to Georgia at any time, to get acquainted with the activities of Georgian wine producing companies, to attend the wine production process, and then to take an objective decision regarding issuance of a permit to import to a particular company. The Georgian government is interested in the export of Georgian mineral water, wine, and any high-quality products, and reiterates its full readiness to contribute actively to the said process, "- stresses the ministry's statement.

Earlier the head of Russia's Rospotrebnadzor Gennady Onishchenko said his agency is ready to send experts to Georgia to inspect producers of wine and mineral water, that could potentially return to the Russian market.

According to him, many producers of wine and mineral water provided documentation needed for return to Russian market, but this was prevented by the Georgian authorities. "Instead of saying "come and see, we will not not create any obstacles", we hear from them [Georgian authorities - HN] some inarticulate statements with pretension to insolence," - said Onishchenko.